A POPULAR funeral director is believed to have taken his own life after struggling to cope with his wife's death.

Philip Hargrave, 45, a funeral director at Hargrave Funeral Services in Bourne End, was found dead on Sunday last week in his car in Christmas Common, Oxfordshire.

Police say there were no suspicious circumstances.

His wife Juliette, 39, had died of an illness on March 19, but their daughter Victoria, 21, said her father had never got over the death of his mother who died 22 years ago.

Miss Hargrave said: "My mother's death was the last straw. They were extremely loving towards each other."

Miss Hargrave added her father had also found the recent deaths of many of his friends very difficult to deal with.

Born in Edgware, north London, he worked in the profession for 13 years and started his own business three-and-a-half years ago with his wife.

Miss Hargrave, the couple's only child, said: "I was really proud of him when he directed funerals. It was his pride and joy. He got satisfaction from caring for families.

"He was an extremely caring and a sensitive man and a lot of people said he was very compassionate.

"That was why funeral directing came naturally to him."

She praised the "well respected and much loved member of the community".

She also spoke of a very special bond that the two of them shared.

She said: "He was fantastic. He did everything for me, he was an extremely loving father and he always wanted to spend time with me.

"As soon as I was born we were really close.

"He absolutely loved my son, Joshua, and would get on his hands and knees to play horses with him."

Mr Hargrave was fanatical about flying and spent time working at Wycombe Air Centre in Booker.

Former colleague Amanda Sarney said: "I've known him for about 28 years.

"He was a very sensitive, lov-ely man and I can't believe it."

An inquest was opened on Thursday and adjourned until a later date.

The funeral is due to be held on Saturday, May 7 at 12.30pm at the Chiltern Crematorium